A private meeting between Oman’s Sultan Haitham and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman highlights expanding cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure, energy and regional stability.
WEBDESK – SharjahNews.ae
Oman and Saudi Arabia are pushing their longstanding relationship into a new phase of strategic cooperation, with growing trade, investment and infrastructure links reinforcing political coordination between the two Gulf neighbours.
The deepening partnership was underscored by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s private fraternal visit to Saudi Arabia, where he met Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman at his residence in Jeddah.
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Oman, Ibrahim bin Saad bin Bishan, said the visit reaffirmed the historic relationship between the two countries and reflected the close attention given to bilateral ties by their leaderships.
He said Saudi Arabia and Oman were connected by shared history, geography and mutual interests, with cooperation increasingly focused on building a more integrated and prosperous future.
Relations have strengthened significantly in recent years through high-level exchanges and the establishment of the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council following Sultan Haitham’s official visit to Saudi Arabia in June 2021.
The council provides an institutional framework for cooperation across sectors and supports projects linked to Saudi Vision 2030 and Oman Vision 2040.
Economic ties have also continued to expand. Official figures showed Saudi direct investment in Oman reached about RO72.8 million in 2025, while Omani direct investment in Saudi Arabia stood at approximately RO115.9 million.
Bilateral trade reached around RO2.48 billion in 2025, while trade during the first half of 2026 totalled approximately RO1.09 billion. Omani exports to Saudi Arabia were valued at about RO547.6 million during the six-month period, compared with imports of roughly RO538.6 million.
The opening of the Empty Quarter border crossing in December 2021 has played a major role in boosting trade and travel. The crossing created the first direct land connection between Saudi Arabia and Oman and has strengthened commercial links and mobility between the two countries.
Trade passing through the crossing was valued at approximately RO1.32 billion in 2025, according to figures cited by the ambassador.
The two countries are now looking towards future-focused projects, including clean energy, green hydrogen, electrical interconnection and the planned Gulf railway network.
Tourism is another area identified for closer cooperation, with joint initiatives expected to promote destinations in both countries through exchange programmes and coordinated marketing.
The partnership also remains important within the wider Gulf Cooperation Council framework, with Oman and Saudi Arabia coordinating on regional and international issues amid continuing geopolitical challenges.
The latest meeting between Sultan Haitham and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signals continued momentum behind a relationship increasingly shaped by economic integration, strategic coordination and long-term development ambitions.
